A Home Like Ours by Fiona Lowe (feel good books .txt) 📕

doesn’t mention whether a member can or can’t observe a meeting.’

Helen could see the cogs of Judith’s brain turning. She instinctively knew a new agenda item would be added—a call for a special meeting to close this particular loophole.

The gloves were well and truly off. Judith could try, but Helen was ready for a fight and she’d start now by refusing to leave.

Tara stood on the river bank staring at the sun-dazzled water, watching the light play across its tranquil surface. She wasn’t sure how long it was since she’d left the garden or how long she’d been standing here, only that she’d needed to see the river and breathe in the eucalypt-scented air. The hum of insects buzzed and a large tree branch floated past on the brown-blue water. It was rolling along as if it had all the time in the world and nowhere in particular to be except where it was right this minute.

Come with me. Float away.

The river pulled at her, promising tranquillity. Its water would fill her ears and silence all the noise in her world—the insects, the shrieking gang-gang cockatoos, her phone, people asking her for things and the never-ending to-do list on repeat in her head. There’d be peace and quiet in the river. Freedom.

She instinctively took two steps forward towards the promise.

Every nerve ending sparked. Spiralling pain tingled from her scalp to her toes. She looked down, shocked to see her sandals glinting under cold water.

What are you doing?

This wasn’t Riverbend Park. Floating here in an inner tube was dangerous. This section of river was notorious for snags and hidden currents that swirled and dragged, pulling anything that passed under the water. Trapping it in the dark.

Heart pounding, she jumped back. She didn’t want to die.

God, no! She wanted to see her kids grow and thrive. Do things with Jon while he was still active. She had so much to live for, but at the same time she craved some peace to be Tara—her own person. Some time just for her. Some time when she could take a short break from being the wife, the mother, the carer and the employer.

The river winked in the sun and she turned, keen to get away from its hypnotic pull. Back at the car, she reached for her water bottle, but it was empty so she opened the hatch to grab a spare from the cold bag that lived in the car. As she reached for it, her hand hovered over her gym bag. Even though she hadn’t used her running kit in weeks, she hadn’t been able to bring herself to remove it from the car.

Holding onto the past won’t help you embrace this new future.

‘Shut up, Lorraine.’

She unzipped the bag and fingered the almost new gear she’d bought when Shannon and Chris had left for America. Her mind tried hard to lurch away from what had happened the last time she’d worn it.

Kissing Zac.

Fiza’s phone call.

Jon in hospital.

She caressed the laces of her running shoes and more distant memories stirred. The breeze on her face, the sweat in her eyes, the sensation of flying. Without really thinking, she was reaching down and unbuckling her wet sandals and shoving her feet into the runners.

The moment the light fabric skimmed the tops of her toes and the foam support snuggled under her soles, she wanted to run. Was desperate to run. Knew she had been for weeks.

With no one around to watch her, she changed clothes and set off along the track. Soon, her chest was heaving and her heart racing, and the only noise in her head was the blessed reverberation of her pulse. Her full focus was zeroed in on putting one foot in front of the other and avoiding tripping on raised river gum roots.

She ran.

Time receded.

Nothing existed except her and the track.

‘Tar-ra!’

No! She picked up her pace, determined not to stop. She didn’t want to talk to anyone and lose the bliss of the zone.

‘Tara! Wait!’ The voice called again, closer this time. ‘It’s me.’

Zac. She didn’t turn, but then he was running beside her, breathing hard.

‘Why … are … you … sprinting?’

The zone fractured into a thousand pieces and the world rushed back.

‘Can … you … slow … down.’

No. But her muscles screamed, on fire with red hot pain. Her lungs craved air and silver spots spun in front of her eyes.

She slowed and glanced around for her bearings, recognising Riverbend Park where Zac held his boot camps. Bending over, she gripped her thighs until her vision steadied and her ragged breathing smoothed.

‘How far have you run?’ Zac asked.

‘From Warrabeen Lagoon. It’s the first time I’ve run since we …’ She dodged the embarrassing memory. ‘Since I last saw you.’

She lay down on the ground, not caring about the dust and the dirt of tree litter, and stretched her arms wide, trying to catch a hint of a breeze.

‘That’s ten kay.’ Zac spun the cap off an energy drink and handed it to her. ‘Here.’

‘Thanks.’ She chugged it down, relishing the cold.

‘If you haven’t run in ages, why did you decide to do it in thirty-three degrees?’

It was a fair question. Running in the middle of the day between October and March was stupid. ‘I didn’t plan it. I’m supposed to be at work but …’

‘But what?’

She sighed. ‘I think I was running away.’

His dark brows drew down. ‘Running away? From what?’

She rolled the bottle over her hot skin, welcoming the cooling droplets of condensation. Thought about the river and the fright she’d given herself.

‘Mostly from myself.’

‘Should I be worried about you?’

Her heart squeezed at his concern. ‘Maybe. Before I started running like a maniac, I was worried about me.’

‘And now?’

‘My head’s quieter. I feel more like me.’

‘The power of exercise.’ He stared at the river for a bit, then turned back to her. ‘Did you get my texts?’

‘I did. Thanks.’

‘But?’

‘But …’

‘Is it because of what happened?’ Distress twisted his mouth. ‘Please don’t make it about a